Top of the Foot Pain

What is top of the foot pain?

We put our poor feet under a great deal of stress, so it’s no wonder we get pain on the top of the foot at times. The pain can range from mild to quite severe and may be accompanied by redness, swelling, or difficulty standing or walking. It can be a real pain in the...uhh...foot.

What causes top of the foot pain?

There are so many causes of pain on the top of the foot. A common cause is simply pressure from improper footwear. Even over-tightening your shoelaces can give you grief. More complex causes include the structure and function of your legs and feet, muscle imbalance and poor running technique. Common injuries that cause pain on the top of the foot include:

• Stress fractures

• Tendinopathy (previously called tendonitis)

• Bone spurs

• Nerve pressure

• Joint sprains

Chronic diseases like arthritis and diabetes can also play a part so it’s important to get a proper diagnosis from your podiatrist before starting treatment.

Treatment for top of the foot pain

The treatment for pain on the top of the foot will obviously be determined by the cause. Podiatrists are the best people to help you work through this process. Your podiatrist may recommend applying ice or heat to reduce pain and stiffness in the short-term.

• Other treatments may include:

• Pain relief medication

• Foot mobilisation therapy

• Dry needling

• Strapping and padding

• Footwear advice and shoelace pattern modification

• Shoe inserts such as heel raisers or orthotics

• Stretching and strengthening exercises

• Running retraining

• Surgery (in severe cases)